Guilty Pleasures

[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

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[Guinevère]

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[Arthur Pendragon]

When the moment had come to an end, Arthur took a few moments to catch his breath. How quickly one thing had led to another, and he did not mind the escalation. He welcomed it. Because that was how things always started and happened between them. It was the only way things could happen between them. His hands moved along her sides, feeling the curves of her body until they rested casually at her waist. He felt her brush his damp hair back and found it rather calming. As it helped to ease his heavy breathing. "Arthur. Will you stay tonight? I don't want to be alone." He looked at her when she asked him, already having known his answer from the moment he had set her on his bed when she'd been unconscious. He had not expected to spent such an intimate night with her, but he still had planned to be with her . . . so that she did not feel alone. Just as she said now. "You needn't ask," he said softly as he gently brushed his lips against hers.

When he pulled away, that was when he noticed the cut on her lip, and the slowly growing bruise. That was when he realized he may have hurt her during his over passionate actions and . . . made him wonder what the men had done to her. Again, he wanted to ask but was too terrified to ask. He just looked at her for a few long moments, lightly kissing where her bruise was forming before he moved off of her, pulling up his pants and moving his legs over the side of the bed. He was not leaving her, but he wanted to tend to her wound. Just lightly wash it with water. He tied the laces to his trousers, knowing that if she felt uncomfortable, she could just use the blanket to cover herself. As he sat on the edge of the bed, he turned his upper body to look at her, bringing his hand to rest on her uninjured cheek, gently caressing it. "I brought some water and a cloth," he explained, hoping she would know what he was asking, or suggesting she let him do.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère watched him move to sit up, and pulled her covers up around her. She knew it was silly to be modest after he's had his head in some of the places he'd had them but some how it felt different now. Not in a bad way, just different. He told had told her that he would stay but she still had questions.

He told he that he had water and a cloth and she knew that she must look a mess. "Thank you," She told him, also knowing how good it would be to feel clean. Someone everything looked better when you were clean. Brighter and easier to handle. "Id my brother will your men?" She asked, not wanting him to find her naked in the king's bed. He was at ease with most things in this world but she doubted he'd let some lines be crossed.

[Arthur Pendragon]

When she thanked him he gave a slight smile and moved his hand from her cheek, resuming his initial position of kneeling near the bed rather than on it. He picked up the bowl of water, which was a bit cooler than he would have liked as he had neglected it. He waited for her to sit up, dipping the cloth in it so that it would have some time to soak. Her question about Elyan was indeed a valid one, for he could only imagine how awkward it would be if he entered the king's tent to find his sister in such a state of undress. Especially since . . . he was married. The thought of Elena finally entered his mind, but did not cause him to be withdrawn from Guinevère. What level of betrayal had he gotten to? Where he was now capable of thinking of his wife, and still felt immense guilt over it, but yet . . . could not tear himself away from the woman that he loved?

He would have to distract himself from these thoughts, and answering her question was an excellent way to do that. "He is. Most of the men have gone to sleep. Other than the ones who will keep guard. And they are dispersed around the camp." They would not give reports unless there was a problem, and even then, Arthur would be able to hear it from here. There would be plenty of time to be warned. "Don't worry. You're safe." Not just from danger, but her reputation was safe as well. He wished he could say that he would never do anything to jeopardize it . . . but clearly, he had so many times. This was the fourth. And he wondered, if it would be the last.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère sat up some in the bed and thought about his words on where Elyan might be. Had he already checked on her? She hoped so, so that way he would not come back til morning. She wanted a few hours with the man she loved more then anything in this world. Next to her son at least. They came very close, but her son was her pride and joy. Different but both very strong in her heat.

He told her that she was safe and she smiled softly. "I know. I feel safe." She admitted, "Knowing you are here Arthur, I very very safe in this moment." Arthur would protect everyone, and she knew that he would make sure she got back to the city safely. "You make me feel very safe." In so many ways!

She wondered then about his wife, and if she was in Camelot. If they had returned safely or if Odin had moved further south the just Arleon. "My son . . . Did you see him before you left? Or any time in the past weeks?" She wanted news of him, since she was too afraid to ask after his wife.

[Arthur Pendragon]

When she sat up, he set the bowl on the side of the bed, draining the cloth a bit so that it would not be dripping. But he paused when she spoke of how safe she felt with him. The words warmed his heart, to know that she trusted him. That she felt he could protect her. Even though he had failed miserably in doing so. And she had the marks on her face to prove it. And the trauma that she would never forget. That was not protecting her, and he felt horrible for how it had happened. Just as he felt horrible for where he had been when she was in danger. He knew that being married it should not be something that he felt guilty over . . . but he did. In indescribable ways. "I'm glad to hear that," he told her gently leaning forward to kiss her forehead, allowing his lips to linger there for a moment before he leaned back to answer her next question, regarding her son.

As he answered he gently brought the damp cloth to her lips, wiping away whatever blood, dry or wet, was there. And making sure to do is with the utmost care. "He wanted to join us. He had his cape in his hand and was ready to come with us to save you." Arthur had promised him that he would bring his mother home, and he was so very relieved that he could stay true to his word. "He misses you a great deal. I saw him a few times in the past weeks. His reading is greatly improving." For he had made him read from the book of riddles that Arthur once read from, and it had done so practically flawlessly. He was trying to focus on a positive subject, one that was easy to talk about: Thomas. He still had questions about her attack but tonight, for now, he just wanted to ease her mind. Not force her to relive what she had been through just recently.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère felt him kiss her forehead and she felt a warm glow fill her. She liked it when he did things liked that, and made her feel comfortable. As he cleaned her lip, her hand came to rest over his. She knew it must look bad, but she didn't want him thinking she was so breakingable. Yet he spoke of Thomas, and her heart filled with love and sadness.

"I miss him so much," She admitted, "I feel as if I have missed half a life time. I doubt I will ever be able to leave him at home again." She missed her son, but knew that she would see hi soon. Because of Arthur. Because he saved her! "Be honest," she tried to teased him softly, "How bad does it look?" She mean her bruised cheek and split lip. She was trying to keep the moment light because she knew that he would be angry upon hearing how the foes treated the prisoners they took.

[Arthur Pendragon]

He gave a soft smile when she put her hand on him, dipping the cloth back into the water and once again, dabbing her wounded lip. His smile remained faint but sincere as she continued to speak of how she would be unable to leave Thomas again. It was understandable. And, he knew he had been part of the reason that she left him to begin with. He knew she did not want to be here for when Elena returned. Yet another reason for fault to be placed on his shoulders. At the same time, she was protecting him. And in the end, he had not been put into danger. Unlike her. Something that still caused a chill to run down Arthur's spine when he thought of the turmoil she'd endured. And how afraid he'd been for her. "I doubt he will ever let you leave him again," Arthur said also trying to encourage the light mood, though there was strong truth to his words. "I think he took my words to protect his mother very seriously. I have never seen a child so determined before."

He had been so set on coming, to save his mother. "Be honest." He paused, wondering what she would say for there seemed to be a lightness in her tone. "How bad does it look?" Arthur was finding it hard to smile, but he kept it in place. Because, he knew it was just a soft tease. At the same time, it was a reminder of what had happened to her. How another man's hands had been on her so violently. He looked deep into her eyes, so that she would know he meant these words with the utmost sincerity. "You're still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on." More beautiful than anyone . . . than his own wife. Guinevère had a beauty about her that was both inner and outer; which only made her more radiant and ravishing. And that, along with so many other reasons, was why he could not seem to stay away from her.

[Guinevère]

She smiled softly at his words about her son and she knew that she was VERY lucky to have him. Having a son was one of the greatest joys in her life, and she knew that the greatest thing she would ever do in her life would be to raise him. He could grow to become a knight, and be the type of man she wanted him to be. She hoped he would be. Him showing signs of that now only make her so proud and miss him so much! So very , very much!

Her smile only grew brighter when Arthur looked into her eyes and told her that she was the most beautiful woman. She didn't quite believe him but the fact that he would say so now, only made her feel like. Her fingers reached up to touch her lip and then her cheek. "I hope everything fades before Thomas' sees me, or I can at least think of something simple to tell him about what happened."

[Arthur Pendragon]

There it was. That bright smile that he loved seeing on her expression. It just caused her whole face to glow and he absolutely loved seeing it. It was always her smiles that he had looked forward to, for they were so filled with life and love. And he especially loved it when he was the reason she was smiling. For he had been the reason for her tears so many times. That it was nice to see that he still had the ability to make her smile like that. He dipped the cloth back in the water, noticing she touched her lip and cheek, saying that she hoped it faded before others saw her. Arthur had told himself that he was not going to bring it up, but his curiosity and anxiety over the subject was too great.

He brought the cloth back to her lip, continuing to carefully wipe it. "We don't have to talk about it right now," he began to say. Not wanting her to feel pressured to discuss it, for he was completely willing to distract the conversation for a little bit longer. "But, if you think you can answer, then . . . what did happen Guinevère?" He wanted to, no needed to know. He was bracing himself for the answer though. Knowing it would not be good. Knowing that it would make him feel that rage he felt when he saw the way the general talked about her. But he had to hear it.

[Guinevère]

Her smile slipped and faded to something more forced out rather then alive and bright. "I am sure I look worse then the story." She told him, trying to keep the moment light. "we were packing the carriage when the villages came running to the gates. Sir Kobly ordered them opened to everyone until Odin's men were almost to the door. Then he had to seal them. They burned part of the village but spent most their time trying to get past the outer wall."

They set their arrows on fire and shot them over it. The grounds were wet so only some places caught on fire but we were able to put most of them out." That was how she had gotten the burns on the bottom of her dress. From the fires. Her dress had gotten too close to one of the flames and before she knew it . . .

"When they were about to breach the wall, the woman were sent to lock ourselves into the main hall. They still got though to us. We were put in the tower until you showed up. They picked three of us, trying to decide on which one should deliver the message tot he camp." Her hand came up to her cheek at the memory of the slap. "After that, you know the rest."

[Arthur Pendragon]

"I am sure I look worse then the story." He doubted that. Because her injuries were inflicted by the violence of men. Such behavior was something that Arthur did not tolerate, nor would ever tolerate. Any man who abused a woman in such a way . . . well, there was no room for them in this world. He listened to her personal account of the story. He had heard most of this -- a more ambiguous version -- from the report that had come to him, that Sir Arryn had given him. He couldn't imagine how afraid she must have been, how afraid everyone must have been. It only made Arthur wish even more that the report had somehow arrived sooner. That they would have gotten there sooner. Before anyone was hurt. Before Guinevère had been . . . wounded. He also did not miss the fact that she was leaving out specifics part of the story.

Was she avoiding it for his sake? Or not mentioning it because it still caused her fear to think about? Perhaps a bit of both. Arthur had decided that he didn't want to push her, but he also did not want her to trivialize nor downplay all that had happened to her. He wanted to hear about it. "After that, you know the rest." He raised his hand that was not holding the cloth, to her cheek and took her hand in his. He then brought it to his lips kissing the back of it. "I don't know the rest," he said in a soft voice, and then in an even softer voice, continued. "Will you tell me?" He asked, not wanting to pressure her, yet not wanting her to withhold information if it was only to spare him from the details.

[Guinevère]

Guinevère knew what he was asking for, the story behind her injuries but she did not wish him to be angry. She knew he would for he hated any violence toward anyone, so she tired to answer his questions without details. Without telling him anything to cause him to think worse of anyone. Besides, if the men she told stories about where locked up they could not hurt anyone.

"I think the general did not like my confidence in you and your men." She because that had been where he'd shut her up. "I was taken elsewhere to wait things out.A bed room, but they did not think to leave anyone to watch me. I used the servant's steps to escape and they found me. Took me to the main hall where I saw you . . . . and almost died of fear."

"You could have been killed! What were you thinking walking in there with no weapons and no men to help you?!" She asked of him, changing the topic form her!